Former Conq now making music

Pawel Storozynski says he was born with a basketball in one hand and a guitar in the other.

The basketball part is understandable. Both of his parents were professional players in Europe, so it would be natural for the former Dodge City Conquistadors to love the sport as much as he does.

The Polish-born, French-raised Storozynski is also a big music fan and had dreams of also playing guitar in a band; a love of music he received from his father.

"The thing is that I've had this passion for music for a long time," Storozynski said.

Storozynski played basketball for the Conqs with Brian Hoberecht and Texas Tech under Bob Knight; then played professionally in Europe for eight seasons.

"I had the passion to play basketball, and now I have time to do my other passion," Storozynski said. "My story with basketball is over; so I want to start my passion of music."

Storozynski showed off his passion of the guitar during his time in Dodge City, but he got to play for over 9,000 in attendance during the Texas Tech "Midnight Madness", when he performed in front of the Red Raider faithful.

"I got to play a 30-minute concert," Storozynski said. "It turned out to be a blessing at the time, but a curse when the season started because overtime I mess up on the floor and Coach Knight had to call a time out, he would ask if I wanted to play basketball or be a musician."

Since retiring in 2012, Storozynski has turned to his other passion for comfort, playing guitar for the group Storo. His first album was just released with him causing his guitar to smoke as the cover.

Most of his musical friends have seen Storozynski with his current long hair, so they are amazed when he shows photos of his college basketball days with cropped hair.

"I started growing my hair in 2004," Storozynski said. "I just show them the picture and they said I looked like Drago from the Rocky movies."

Storozynski's two loves are now in a little bit of conflict of each other.

He works as technical director for Auxerre in the French Ligue third division after concluding his professional career, so he has a hand on all of the programs within the organization from seven-years old to the professional squad.

It has also allowed Storozynski's band to play together, including those for special causes.

One of the Auxerre players has made it a priority to help children from other countries who are suffering, so Storozynski and his group are playing tonight in Auxerre to raise money for UNICEF, the United Nations organization that helps with humanitarian aid.

Storozynski said the Auxerre president recently asked him to take over as head coach of the professional team, and it's something he really is thinking hard about since it could cut into his musician time.

"I still don't know if I'm going to take it because I like coaching the younger kids," Storozynski said. "I knew one of these days it was going to come up. I just want to do what I feel is best for my life."

That actually includes a plan for a return trip to Dodge City to see friends he made while here during his time with the Conqs and also show off his guitar skills at the same place he showed off his basketball prowess.

"I do have a dream," Storozynski said. "That is to play my music at the Civic Center."